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Registration Now Open!
The Arc of Illinois 74th Annual Convention
May 1-2, 2024
We are hosting our 74th Annual Convention this spring. Our theme is “Advocacy for All”. This year’s focus is getting back to our grassroots advocacy, ensuring that across the lifespan that individuals and families have the services and supports needed to live the fullest life possible.
Our annual convention will be held on May 1-2, 2024 at the Marriott in Bloomington-Normal, however this is a hybrid in-person and remote event.
A track of breakout sessions will be presented in Spanish.
Click here to view the full brochure and mail in your registration: Englisho Español
The 22nd Annual Convention Art Exhibit and Contest
During the Annual Convention, The Arc of Illinois hosts an Art Exhibit and Contest. This year, the Annual Convention will be hybrid with both virtual and in-person attendees.
The Art Exhibit will be displayed:
Virtually on the Annual Convention microsite, Wednesday, April 24th thru Thursday, May 2, 2024
In-person at the Marriott, Bloomington, Wednesday, May 1 thru Thursday, May 2.
Artists must submit a picture of their artwork for the virtual exhibit. Artists are welcome to have their work displayed at the Convention, if able, but is not a requirement to participate in the contest.
Click on the button below for the complete contest rules and information. Artwork is due to by April 1, 2024.
It’s Spring Break for the House and Senate this week. The House will reconvene next Tuesday. Below is a list of some disability related legislation we are watching.
We will be welcoming Christine Haley, Chief of the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.
The conversation will seek a better understanding of which demographics are being served by the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and how tools and resources can be used by the developmental disabilities system to rethink housing options and opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
We hope to learn from each other about what is happening in the IDD community related to homelessness, possibly share data, and potentially identify if and where the gaps may be filled such as in data, connections to services, actual services, or housing resources.
Please join us this Thursday, March 28, at 10:30 am for the next module in our Legislative Advocacy Webinar Series!
This collaboration between Going Home Coalition and Speak Up and Speak Out Summit is presented by The Arc of Illinois with funding through The Coleman Foundation and The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.
This presentation we will be on Crafting an Elevator Speech. Elian Sorensen, Going Home Coalition Coordinator and Curtis Harris, self-advocate, will discussing what elevator speeches are, why they're important, and how to write one.
The Legislative Advocacy Webinar Series is provided to the public for free.
No Place Like Home: Disabled People's Fight to Stay Out of Institutions.
The documentary first airsMarch 28, 2024 at 8:00am and will be available to stream immediately oncbsnews.com/homeas well as Paramount+. You'll be able to find it by doing aGoogle search.
The documentary will air on March 31, 2024 at 9:00am in the national CBS News digital news stream on https://www.cbsnews.com/live/. At that time, it will also be available to watch on YouTube.
We will notify you as we hear information and other viewing opportunities.
Picture of 5 women standing and smiling
Left to Right: Carole Rosen, Going Home Coalition Manager; Suzanne Aaron; The Arc of Illinois Information & Outreach Specialist; State Senator Mary Edly-Allen, 31st District, Madalyn Sergel, Event Coordinator, & Keri Andrews Event Coordinator.
On March 16th,Going Home Coalition Manager, Carole Rosen, and The Arc of Illinois Information and Outreach Specialist, Suzanne Aaron participated in an outreach eventthat took place in Gurnee at the Warren-Newport Public Library. Service providers, and local IDD resources participated along with State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D31), State Representative State Representative Laura Faver Dias (D62), and State Representative Joyce Mason (D61). Thissuccessful event was organized by Madalyn Sergel and Keri Andrews and was a great example of advocacy and civic engagement!
On March 23rd, Carole Rosen, REV UP Illinois Manager represented REV UP and The Arc of Illinois’ Family Transition Program Director Greg Walkington. Murray Center has done a fantastic job registering new voters and using their legislative advocacy skills for residents at Murray! REV UP Illinois and The Arc of Illinois Family Transition Program will continue to participate in Division of Developmental Disabilities Community Transition Fairs. DDD will continue to host Transition Fairs at each of the State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs)
Fox Developmental Center: July 20, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Picture of 3 women standing and smiling
Left to Right: Stacey Aschemann; Independent Monitoring Unit Program Vice President at Equip for Equality.
Carole Rosen; The Arc of Illinois; REV UP Illinois Manager & Tonya Piephoff, Director for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
What Does Being an Advocate Mean to You?
"To me, advocacy means that you have a voice, regardless of how you use it or what technology you need to use it, that you have opinions and preferences, and that you use your voice to speak out and let people know what you want and what you need!"
- Suzanne Aaron, Information and Outreach Specialist at The Arc of Illinois
"Advocacy means everything to me. It means being able to get what we need for my daughter Colette. It means helping people who need our help. It means speaking out for those in need."
- Greg Walkington, Director of Family Transition at The Arc of Illinois
"What advocacy means to me is supporting all families in finding their voice and being heard on issues that directly impact them. It means being the voice for those who, for whatever reason, can’t find theirs. It also means working together with all agencies, willing to stand together with The Arc, to overcome systematic barriers that are preventing individuals from reaching their full potential and living a full life they choose."
- Tiffany Steinhauser, M Ed., Illinois Life Span Information and Outreach Specialist at The Arc of Illinois
"For me, advocacy is a way to honor my daughter, Karuna, who passed away at age 11 after a lifetime of complex medical conditions and disabilities. I learned everything I know about advocacy on the job, fighting for her rights to make sure her needs were met. I know how much of a struggle it was, and I know how important it was for our entire family.
Now, I use my advocacy skills to help other families who don't have the time, energy, or expertise to fight alone. I hope that every bit of advocacy – from the smallest bit of individual advocacy to large systemic changes – can make life a little bit easier and a little bit better for people with disabilities and their families."
- Susan Agrawal, Ph.D., Family to Family Health Information Center Program Director at The Arc of Illinois
Thank you to The Arc of Illinois 74th Annual Convention Sponsors!
VIP Sponsor
Keynote Sponsor
The Arc of Illinois 9980 190th St, Suite C, | Mokena, Illinois 60448 815.464.1832 | info@thearcofil.org
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